OpenDyslexic
IN THE READERThe best-known open-source dyslexic font, with weighted letter bottoms. Pick it in the PDF reader and the document reader settings.
DYSLEXIA FONT · DYSLEXIA FRIENDLY READING
A Dyslexia Font for Chrome.
Dyslexia Friendly Reading, Free.
HalfBold Reader is a dyslexia Chrome extension. Read PDFs, Google Docs and books in a dyslexic font such as OpenDyslexic or Lexend, add half-bold word starts, and tune spacing and colours until long text feels comfortable. It is a font for dyslexia you can switch on in a few clicks, with no account.
Add to Browser — FreeChrome · Edge · Brave · Arc
On a phone? Open this page on your computer to install.
Dyslexia fonts you can choose
There is no single best font for dyslexia, so HalfBold gives you several dyslexia friendly fonts and lets you compare them on your own documents.
Lexend
IN THE PDF READERA modern font family designed for readability, with wide letter spacing. Loaded from Google Fonts only when you choose it.
Fast OpenDyslexic
FOR KINDLE, WORD, KOBOA dyslexia font with half-bold word starts built into the glyphs. Free in the Fast-Font Pack for Kindle, Kobo, KOReader and Microsoft Word.
Fast Sans & Fast Mono
DOCUMENT READERClean sans and monospace fonts with the same built-in emphasis, for long reading sessions and code.
Where the dyslexic font works
HalfBold keeps your pages as they are and adds the dyslexia friendly options where you read the most.
PDF reader
Open a PDF in the reader, choose OpenDyslexic or Lexend, set line spacing and a calm background, and use half-bold word starts.
Google Docs reader
Read a Google Doc in a dyslexia friendly view with OpenDyslexic, wider margins and Focus mode, without publishing the document.
Web pages
On any site HalfBold emphasises the start of each word in the page’s own font, so layouts stay intact. Adjust strength, colours and line height per site.
Books, Kindle and Word
Download Fast OpenDyslexic from the Fast-Font Pack and install it on a Kindle, Kobo or in Microsoft Word.
Turn on a dyslexic font in 4 steps
No account and no setup file. The dyslexia extension works locally in your browser.
- 1Add HalfBold Reader to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store and pin it.
- 2Open a PDF or a Google Doc in the HalfBold reader.
- 3Open the reader settings and choose OpenDyslexic or Lexend as the font.
- 4Adjust line spacing, background colour and emphasis strength, then save it as a reading profile.
Dyslexia friendly settings that go beyond the font
A dyslexic font is one part. These controls are free on web pages and in the reader.
Emphasis strength
Choose how much of each word is bold, from 10 to 100%, and pick one of 5 highlight styles.
Full-strength text
Keep the rest of every word at full contrast instead of faded, which helps when low contrast is hard to read.
Line spacing
Raise line height up to 2x so lines do not run together.
Colours and backgrounds
Set ink and fade colours and use warm, sepia or dark reading themes instead of stark white.
Per-site rules
Keep different settings per website, or block a site completely.
Reading profiles
Save a combination of font, spacing and colours and switch to it in one click.
What HalfBold is and is not
HalfBold Reader is a reading aid for people with dyslexia, ADHD or tired eyes. It does not treat or cure dyslexia, and it cannot promise faster reading or better comprehension. Many readers find that a font for dyslexia, extra spacing and calm colours make long text more comfortable. Try several settings and keep what works for you.
Try a dyslexia friendly font on your own documents
Install the free extension and open a PDF or a Google Doc. The first 2 pages of every document are free in the reader; full documents come with HalfBold Pro (planned, not on sale yet).
Add to Browser — It's FreeWorks on Chrome, Edge, Brave & Arc · Set up in under a minute
Free webpage tools · No account needed
On a phone? Open this page on your computer to install.
Questions
Is there a dyslexia extension for Chrome?
Yes. HalfBold Reader is a free dyslexia Chrome extension: it offers dyslexic fonts such as OpenDyslexic and Lexend in its readers, half-bold word starts, line spacing and colour controls.
What is the best font for dyslexia?
There is no single best dyslexia font and research on dyslexic fonts is mixed. People differ, so HalfBold lets you compare OpenDyslexic, Lexend and other fonts and keep the one that feels most comfortable.
Is OpenDyslexic a dyslexic font?
Yes. OpenDyslexic is an open-source dyslexia friendly font with weighted letter bottoms. You can use it in the HalfBold PDF reader and document reader, and as Fast OpenDyslexic on Kindle, Kobo and in Word.
Does HalfBold change the font on every website?
No. On web pages it emphasises the start of each word in the page’s own font, so layouts do not break. Dyslexic fonts apply in the HalfBold readers and in the Fast-Font Pack.
How do I get a dyslexia font on a Kindle?
Download Fast OpenDyslexic from the free Fast-Font Pack, copy the .ttf file into the fonts folder of your Kindle and choose it in the book’s font menu.
Is the dyslexia friendly font free?
Fonts, spacing and colours are free. The first 2 pages of any PDF or Google Doc are free in the reader; full documents come with HalfBold Pro (planned, not on sale yet).
Does it also help with ADHD?
Many readers with ADHD use the same controls: half-bold word starts, line spacing and Focus mode. HalfBold is a reading aid, not a medical treatment.